By David
A. Sargent
Two San Diego,
California firefighters responded to a 911 call reporting an intoxicated man
who had become ill on the downtown trolley platform. As the firefighters
were trying to help the drunken man, a bystander attacked them with a knife,
stabbing both of the rescuers multiple times. Both firefighters were
hospitalized.
The suspect was
arrested and is being held in county jail without bail and faces charges of
attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
Police are
trying to determine a motive. Chief Shelley Zimmerman told reporters that
the suspect, who did not appear to be acquainted with the drunken man, began
crowding the firefighters and telling them what to do as they tried to render
aid. “He was asked several times by the firefighters to move back,”
she said. "He continued to interfere with the firefighters rendering the
aid, and an altercation occurred."
How
awful! Two men were attacked while trying to help someone else!
But consider…
Jesus, the Son of God, came “to seek and to save that
which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He came to save US! We desperately
need a Savior because our sin separates us from God and puts us on the path to
eternal destruction (Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 7:13-14). God loves us so much
that He gave His One and Only Son to come to our rescue (John 3:16).
And how was the
Rescuer received? He was rejected, beaten, and crucified! Sinners
killed the only One who could save them!
Yet, it was
through His crucifixion that Jesus is able to save us from our sins. Our
sins demand punishment from a just God: “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans
6:23). But because of His great love for us, God gave His Son to die on
the cross for OUR sins so that we can be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal
life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7).
On Pentecost
Day, The Apostle Peter preached to some of the very ones who had cried out for
Jesus’ crucifixion: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly
that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts
2:36).
Many of them
realized that they had crucified the Promised Messiah – the Great Deliverer
that had been promised by the prophets of old. The murderers, convicted
of their sins, cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts
2:37).
Peter
answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The penitent believers “who gladly received his word
were baptized” (Acts 2:41). They were saved from their sins by the blood
that was shed by Jesus on the cross – the blood that they spilt, but was also
spilt for them, according to the eternal plan of God (Acts 2:23; 1 Peter
1:18-20).
Jesus
came to save YOU, too. Don’t reject the Savior. Accept His offer of
salvation and eternal life in the same way that they did on that Pentecost day:
place your faith and trust in Jesus (see Acts 16:30-31), confess
Jesus before men (see Romans 10:9-10), “repent and be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38). Then
God will give you His Spirit, add you to His church, and prepare a place for
you in Heaven. And, if you will continue to walk in the light of His
Word, the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse you from sin (1 John 1:7) and
prepare you for your heavenly home.
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